life
CITY
HEIGHTS
IN YOUR WORDS
2012
AZALEA PARK•FAIRMOUNT VILLAGE•HOLLYWOOD PARK•SWAN CANYON•CHEROKEE POINT•RIDGEVIEW•CHOLLAS CREEK
Former refugee tells story
FEBRUARY 2012
• FREE •
LA VIDA
Volume 1 • Issue 9
CORRIDOR•FAIRMOUNT PARK•COLINA PARK•CASTLE•FOX CANYON•ISLENAIR•BAYRIDGE•TERALTA EAST•TERALTA WEST
April Moo, who is from a
Burmese ethnic minority
known as the Karen, shares
her story of being born and
raised in a refugee camp and
then coming to America to
make a new life.
[ P4]
HEALTH
Caring for your heart
Aside from roses and chocolates,
another way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to take care of your
heart and your loved one’s.
[ P5]
EDUCATION
Johnny Sanvichith, a Hoover
High graduate, comes home
to City Heights after graduating from UC Berkeley to teach
science for the Ocean Discovery
Institute.
[ P7]
SERVICES
Meet the ‘Bookman’
Out of a City Heights warehouse,
Irwin “The Bookman” Herman
redistributes half a million books
a year to people all over the world.
It’s his way of helping others reach
their potential.
[ P9]
Year of the dragon
More than 1,500 City Heights residents attended the Vietnamese New Year’s
celebration at Rosa Parks Elementary. Photo/City Heights Life
Vietnamese New Year at Rosa
Parks draws more than 1,500
Dien Bui remembers celebrating the Vietnamese New Year in
his native Saigon in Vietnam as
a youth. His family would put
five fruits outside his house at the
stroke of midnight on New Year’s
Eve as an offering to God. The
family would pray one by one for
prosperity, good health, and safety.
The family would light firecrackers before returning inside. Those
were the days before the sound of
firecrackers turned to the sound of
machine gun fire as fighting erupted over control of Saigon. Dien
served in the South Vietnamese
Army until Saigon was overthrown
in 1975 by the Vietcong and he was
imprisoned for seven years.
After he was released from
[ NEW YEAR, P2 ]
Hơn 1,500 dân cư tại City Heights
tham dự lễ kỷ niệm Tết Nguyên Đán tại
Trường Tiểu Học Rosa Parks Elementary
Dien Bui hồn tưởng lại cái Tết
Việt Nam ở Sài Gòn khi ông còn là
một thanh niên. Gia đình của ông
đặt năm loại trái cây bên ngoài nhà
vào lúc Giao Thừa để cúng. Mọi
người trong gia đình cầu cho sự
thịnh vượng, sức khỏe dồi dào,
và bình an. Sau đó gia đình sẽ đốt
pháo trước khi quay trở lại vào
trong nhà. Đó là những ngày trước
khi âm thanh của pháo chuyển
sang âm thanh của súng đạn khi
chiến tranh để tranh chấp Sài Gòn
đã bùng nổ ra. Diên phục vụ trong
quân đội miền Nam cho đến khi
Việt Cộng chiếm Sài Gòn vào năm
1975 và ông đã bị bắt giam trong
bảy năm.
Sau khi ông được ra tù, ông
không được nhận vào một công
[ TET, P2 ]
BREAKING DOWN DIGITAL BARRIERS
SDFF provides computers to low-income families
By Helen Gao
City Heights Life
Supporting her family on a secretary’s
salary, City Heights resident Patricia Ocadiz had trouble saving up enough money to
buy her children a new computer when it
came time to replace the clunker at home.
The family’s first computer was 10 years
old and infected with viruses. It had become so unreliable that her children had to
depend entirely on their school’s computer
lab to get homework done.
That all changed recently when Ocadiz
received a free, newly-refurbished desktop
from the San Diego Futures Foundation.
Headquartered in City Heights, SDFF’s
mission is to improve the lives of San Diegans by making information technology
available for free or at low cost to disadvantaged individuals and underserved organizations.
Ocadiz said having a working computer
at home means that her 16-year-old daughter no longer has to schedule her life around
her school’s computer lab and carry around
all her files on a memory stick. “It’s now so
convenient,” she said. “We are very blessed
with this opportunity to get that computer.”
As part of the City Heights Safety Initiative funded by Price Charities, SDFF
is providing 300 refurbished computers
[COMPUTERS, P2 ]
SDFF Ofreciendo Computadoras a las Familias de Bajos Ingresos
Por Helen Gao
City Heights Life
An SDFFF volunteer sorts donations at the warehouse. Photo/City Heights Life
Mantener a su familia con su salario de secretaria, hacía difícil que Patricia Ocadiz, residente de City Heights,
pudiera ahorrar suficiente dinero para
comprarle a sus hijos una computadora
nueva cuando hubo que reemplazar la
vieja computadora que tenían en casa.
La primera computadora de la familia
tenía 10 años de edad y estaba llena
de virus. No era confiable y los niños
tenían que depender del laboratorio de
computadoras de su escuela para poder
hacer la tarea.
Todo cambió recientemente cuando
Ocadiz recibió gratuitamente una computadora de escritorio completamente
reacondicionada a través de San Diego
Futures Foundation. Con sede en City
Heights, la misión de SDFF es mejorar
la vida de los residentes de San Diego
ofreciendo tecnología informática gratis
o a bajo costo a las personas de bajos
recursos y organizaciones que trabajan
con personas necesitadas.
Ocadiz dijo que tener una computa-
[COMPUTADORAS, P3]
P2
COVERSTORY
NEW YEAR, from P1
prison he wasn’t allowed to hold a good job. His life
changed in 1995 when he was finally able to flee his native homeland for a better life in the United States. Like
many of his countrymen, Dien settled in City Heights
where he has raised two sons.
Seventeen years later, Dien still holds his native customs close to heart even as he’s adopted the American
lifestyle. When Dien saw an advertisement to celebrate
the Vietnamese New Year at Rosa Parks Elementary
School, he jumped at the chance. This year Vietnamese New Year fell on Jan. 23 and was celebrated on the
campus three days later. The event began as a small
gathering 15 years ago but has expanded to include the
whole community. This year an estimated 1,500 students, parents, school personnel and residents like Dien
came to celebrate Vietnamese culture. 2012 is the Year
of the Dragon.
Kim Trang Dang, vice president of the Vietnamese
Community of San Diego, said the event is the only
one she knows of that’s held on a San Diego city school
campus. She said Rosa Parks is a great place to host it
because of its history of embracing multiculturalism.
The principal and vice principal wore authentic, handmade Vietnamese dresses. One unique aspect of the
celebration was the number of non-Vietnamese parents
and students who wore traditional costumes and masks
and melded into the festivities as though the traditions
were their own.
The joining of multiple cultures to celebrate holidays is a tradition at Rosa Parks. This event was hosted
by the Vietnamese Parent Association but it received
much support from the Latino Parent Association at
the Rosa Parks Parent Center. The Vietnamese Parent
Association will return the favor in May to celebrate
Mexican Independence Day.
Thu Tong, parent of three Rosa Parks students and
lead organizer of the event, said cultural celebrations
are important to help her pass down traditions to her
children. “It doesn’t matter where we are, we still keep
our customs for our children.”
Thu says it’s also important for the “kids to see the
parents (from different cultures) working together and
supporting one another.” Together the parents made
1,500 South Vietnamese flags by hand to distribute to
attendees. Parents also worked together to raise money
and cook traditional Vietnamese cuisine for the celebration.
— Staff report
COMPUTERS, from P1
for free to eligible, low-income City Heights
residents, along with computer training and
tech support. Participants in the program are
taught not just computer basics, they also
learn how to use the Internet to report crime
anonymously and find crime data about their
neighborhood via safecityheights.org, a website designed by SDFF.
Ocadiz was in the first cohort of residents
who went through the program in December
and received their computers. So far 64 computers have been distributed under the City
Heights Safety Initiative. SDFF plans to hold
classes and hand out computers every month
until it meets the goal of reaching 300 residents.
Other SDFF programs
The Safety Initiative is just one of many
SDFF programs that low-income City Heights
residents can take advantage of. Those who
miss out on the computer-giveaways funded
by the initiative can apply for low-cost computers that are brand-new or refurbished
through the foundation’s Community Technology Center located off University Avenue
and 43rd Street.
The center, which opened in July, is designed like a retail outlet – welcoming and
According to the Vietnamese
calendar, which is the same as
the Chinese calendar, 2012 is
the Year of the Dragon. Students
dressed in dragon costumes
paraded to the beat of drums.
Theo âm lịch của người Việt
(giống như âm lịch của người
Trung Quốc) năm nay là năm
con Rồng. Các em học sinh mặc
quần áo có hình con Rồng trên
đó và diễu hành theo nhịp trống.
Photos/City Heights Life
TET, from P1
việc tốt nào cho đến năm 1995 khi ông trốn
khỏi quê hương để tìm kiếm một cuộc sống
tốt hơn ở Hoa Kỳ. Giống như nhiều đồng
hương khác, Dien định cư ở City Heights
nơi mà ông đã nuôi dạy hai đứa con trai của
ông.
Sau mười bảy năm, Diên vẫn còn giữ
phong tục của quê hương trong trái tim
mình ngay cả khi ông đã thích nghi với
lối sống của Mỹ. Khi Diên nhìn thấy
một quảng cáo về mừng Tết Việt Nam tại
Trường Tiểu Học Rosa Parks Elementary,
ông đã rất vui. Năm nay Tết Việt Nam bắt
đầu vào ngày 22 tháng 1 và được tổ chức tại
Trường Tiểu Học Rosa Parks ba ngày sau
đó. Sự kiện này bắt đầu từ một nhóm nhỏ
cách đây 15 năm và đã mở rộng hơn cho
cộng đồng. Có khoảng 1,500 học sinh, phụ
huynh học sinh, nhân viên trường học và
người dân như Dien đến tham gia sự kiện
này năm nay để mừng Tết và duy trì nền
văn hóa Việt Nam.
Kim Trang Dang, phó chủ tịch của
brightly-lit. It’s the place where residents can
go to apply and shop for services offered by
SDFF’s Broadband Initiative, which includes
low-cost computers, discounted Internet connection, computer training, technical assistance, and adaptive equipment for people with
disabilities.
Desktops and laptops on display at the
technology center are available for as little as
$99. Desktops come with a flat-screen monitor, mouse, and keyboard, and all computers
have options for anti-virus protection and some
Windows software. Fliers advertise discounted
high-speed Internet service from Cox Communications, which comes with a free modem and
starts at as little as $14.99 a month (The discount is made possible by a partnership SDFF
has with the service provider). Computer repairs are available at the center as well.
“We also serve as a place for people to
come in and ask questions if they don’t want
the sales pressure,” Kris Baluyot, a senior
customer service technician, said. “We give
them pointers on what to look for, what fits
their needs.” He added the technology center
is working to expand its line of products and
become a one-stop shop.
It’s more than just
providing computers
When clients qualify for a computer
through SDFF, they first undergo a computer
skills assessment. If the assessment shows
Cộng Đồng Việt Nam San Diego, cho biết
đây là sự kiện duy nhất mà bà biết đến tổ
chức mừng Tết Việt Nam trong khuôn viên
trường học tại thành phố San Diego. Bà
còn cho biết thêm là Trường Tiểu Học Rosa
Parks là một nơi tuyệt vời để tổ chức sự
kiện này bởi vì nó lưu trữ lịch sử của rất
nhiều nền văn hóa khác nhau. Hiệu trưởng
và phó hiệu trưởng của trường đã mặc trang
phục áo dài truyền thống của người Việt
Nam. Một trong những điểm đặc trưng của
sự kiện này là có rất nhiều phụ huynh và
học sinh không phải là người Việt cũng đã
mặc trang phục truyền thống và hòa nhập
vào trong lễ hội này như truyền thống riêng
của họ.
Sự tham gia của nhiều nền văn khác
nhau để kỷ niệm ngày lễ là một truyền
thống tại Trường Tiểu Học Rosa Parks Elementary. Sự kiện này được tổ chức bởi
Hội Việt Nam Phụ Huynh Học Sinh (Vietnamese Parent Association) nhưng họ nhận
được nhiều sự ủng hộ từ Hội La-tinh Phụ
Huynh Học Sinh (Latino Parent Association) tại Trung Tâm Rosa Parks Phụ Huynh
Học Sinh (Rosa Parks Parent Center). Hội
they need help, clients are directed to take a
free, eight-hour training course before they receive their computer. The course, spread over
four weeks, teaches the basics, such as setting
up an email account and using the Internet for
research.
Rachel Evans, manager of community
technology programs for SDFF, said a lot
emphasis is placed on Internet safety because
many of the computer recipients have children
at home. “It’s really about empowering the
families,” she said.
Computer recipients also enjoy free tech
support through SDFF, which has a toll-free
call center staffed Monday through Friday
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Four IT-certified specialists take calls and two of them speak Spanish and Arabic. They have the capability to
remotely connect to a client’s computer and
troubleshoot.
SDFF has grown rapidly
Founded in 1999 as an offshoot of a San
Diego County initiative to outsource computer and telecommunications operations to
private enterprise, SDFF started out with three
employees. Today, the foundation employs
30 people, and it plans to expand its staffing
to more than 40 people next year. Last year,
SDFF distributed more than 2,000 computers
to low-income families. This year, it aims to
distribute 5,000.
Việt Nam Phụ Huynh Học Sinh sẽ giúp đỡ
lại Hội La-tinh Phụ Huynh Học Sinh vào
tháng 5 để tổ chức Ngày Độc Lập của Mexico (Mexican Independence Day).
Thu Tong, một phu huynh học sinh của
ba em học sinh đang theo học tại Trường
Tiểu Học Rosa Parks Elementary và là
người đứng đầu tổ chức của sự kiện này
cho biết sự kiện này sự này quan trong như
thế nào đến việc truyền dạy những phong
tục truyền thống cho các con. “Nó không
quan trọng là chúng tôi đang ở đâu, chúng
tôi sẽ luôn giữ phong tục truyền thống cho
các con của tôi.”
Thu cho biết cũng rất là quan trọng “cho
những đứa trẻ nhìn thấy cha mẹ (từ nhiều
nền văn hóa khác nhau) làm việc cùng nhau
và hỗ trợ lẫn nhau.” Một trong những hoạt
động mà các phụ huynh học sinh làm với
nhau là tự tay làm ra 1,500 lá cờ Việt Nam
để phát ra cho mọi người đến tham dự sự
kiện này. Phụ huynh học sinh cũng làm việc
với nhau để quyên góp tiền và các món ăn
truyền thống của Việt Nam để mừng Tết.
— Staff report
As part of its San Diego Broadband Initiative, SDFF offers computer
training to help residents learn the basics. Photo/City Heights Life
As part of its San Diego Broadband Initiative, the
San Diego Futures Foundation offers low-cost computers, discounted Internet connection, technical
assistance, and other services.
To learn more, visit sdbroadband.org or call 1-855-800-7333.
Residents also are welcome to visit the SDFF Community Technology
Center, 4305 University Ave., Suite 130, in City Heights.
Como parte de la Iniciativa “San Diego Broadband”,
San Diego Futures Foundation ofrece computadoras
a bajo precio, acceso al internet a precios más bajos,
asistencia técnica y otros servicios.
Para más información, visite el portal sdbroadband.org o llame al
1-855-800-7333. Los residentes del área también pueden visitar
el Centro Comunitario de Tecnología de SDFF, 4305 University Ave.,
Suite 130, en City Heights.
P3
COVERSTORY
SDFF’s Community Technology Center in City Heights
sells refurbished and brand-new desktops and
laptops for as little as $200. The store also offers
computer repairs. Photo/City Heights Life
El Centro Comunitario de Tecnología del SDFF en City
Heights, vende computadoras de escritorio y portátiles
reacondicionadas o nuevas desde $200. El almacén
también ofrece reparación de computadoras.
Foto/City Heights Life
COMPUTADORAS, from P1
dora en casa significa que su hija de 16 años de edad no
tiene que programar su vida alrededor del horario del laboratorio de computadoras de su escuela y puede guardar sus
documentos en una memoria portátil. “Es muy conveniente”,
dijo. “Es una bendición haber recibido la computadora.”
Como parte de la Iniciativa “City Heights Safety”, patrocinada por Price Charities, SDFF ofrece 300 computadoras
reacondicionadas gratuitamente a residentes de bajos ingresos
de City Heights que califiquen, ofrecen también clases de computación y soporte técnico. Los participantes del programa no
solo aprenden conocimientos básicos de computación, también
aprenden a usar el internet para reportar crímenes anónimamente y cómo encontrar información de actividades criminales
en su vecindario a través de safecityheights.org, portal diseñado por SDFF:
Ocadiz pertenece al primer grupo de residentes que participó en el programa que recibió sus computadoras en el mes
de diciembre. Hasta la fecha, se han distribuido 64 computadoras a través de la Iniciativa “City Heights Safety”. SDFF
estará ofreciendo clases y entregando computadoras mensualmente hasta alcanzar su meta de ayudar a 300 residentes
del área.
Otros programas de SDFF
La Iniciativa “Safety” es solo uno de los muchos programas que ofrece SDFF para beneficio de los residentes de City
Heights. Las personas que no reciban computadoras gratis, pueden aplicar para comprar computadoras nuevas o reacondicionadas a bajo precio a través del Centro Comunitario de
Tecnología de la Fundación ubicado entre University Avenue
y 43rd Street.
El Centro, que abrió sus puertas en el mes de julio, fue diseñado como una tienda—acogedor y bien iluminado. Aquí los
residentes pueden llenar aplicaciones y conocer los servicios
que ofrece la Iniciativa “Broadband” de SDFF. La Iniciativa
“Broadband” incluye computadoras a bajo costo, conexión al
internet a menor precio, clases de computación, asistencia técnica y equipo especial para las personas discapacitadas.
La computadoras de escritorio y portátiles en exhibición en el
centro de tecnología están disponibles desde $99. Las de escritorio vienen con un monitor de pantalla plana, mouse y teclado.
Todas las computadoras tienen opciones para protección antivirus y algunos programas de Windows. Volantes en el centro
As part of its San Diego Broadband Initiative, SDFF offers computer training to help residents learn the basics.Photo/City Heights Life Como parte de su Iniciativa “San
Diego Broadband”, SDFF ofrece cursos de computación para ayudar a los residentes a aprender conocimientos básicos. Foto/City Heights Life
anuncian el servicio de alta velocidad de Cox Communications
a un precio especial, el cual incluye un modem gratis a partir de
$14.99 al mes (el descuento es posible gracias a la colaboración
entre SDFF y el proveedor del servicio). El centro también ofrece
servicios de reparación de computadoras.
“También somos un lugar en donde las personas pueden
entrar y hacer preguntas sin que nadie los presione para que
compren nada,” dijo Kris Baluyot, técnico de atención al cliente. “Les aconsejamos acerca de qué necesitan, qué se adapta
mejor a sus necesidades.” Dijo además que el centro de tecnología está trabajando para expandir su línea de productos y
convertirse en una tienda completa.
Ofrece mucho más que computadoras
Cuando los clientes califican para recibir una computadora
a través de SDFF, primero tienen que tomar un examen para
evaluar sus conocimientos de computadoras. Si el examen demuestra que necesitan ayuda, los clientes deben tomar un curso
gratuito de 8 horas antes de recibir su computadora. El curso, de
cuatro semanas de duración, les enseña conocimientos básicos
tales como programar una cuenta de email y cómo usar el internet para encontrar información.
Rachel Evans, Directora de Programas Comunitarios de Tecnología de SDFF, dijo que se enfatiza la seguridad en el internet
porque muchas de las personas que reciben computadoras tienen
niños pequeños. “Queremos empoderar a las familias”, dijo.
Quienes reciben computadoras también disfrutan de soporte técnico gratuito a través de SDFF, que cuenta con un
centro gratuito de llamadas que atiende de lunes a viernes de 8
a.m. a 5 p.m. Cuatro especialistas certificados en informática
responden las llamadas, dos de ellos hablan español y árabe.
Pueden conectarse remotamente a la computadora del cliente
para diagnosticar y tratar de solucionar el problema.
SDFF ha crecido rápidamente
Cuando fue fundado en 1999, como resultado de una iniciativa del Condado de San Diego para canalizar sus operaciones
informáticas y de telecomunicación al sector privado, el personal de SDFF contaba con solo 3 empleados. En la actualidad, la
fundación emplea a 30 personas y está planificando expandir su
personal a más de 40 empleados el próximo año. El año pasado,
SDFF distribuyó más de 2,000 computadoras a familias de bajos
recursos. Este año, su meta es distribuir 5,000.
INYOURWORDS
Surviving refugee camp and then
coming to America to make a new life
By April Moo
City Heights Life Guest Columnist
My parents were originally
from Burma, but my ethnicity is
Karen. Because of the civil war,
my parents fled to Thailand for
safety. I was born and raised in a
refugee camp in Thailand called
Mae La. I lived there for 15 years
before I moved to the United
States.
Life in the refugee camp was
very difficult and did not provide
enough resources for me to succeed. The level of education there
was not sufficient. To go to school
in the camp, people had to pay,
so not every child could go to
school. We did not learn English
in school. Even though one could
graduate from high school, there
were no job opportunities and no
chance to go to college. My future
was limited, and I always thought
that my life would be this way
forever.
Since there were a lot of people in the camp, it was hard to find
P4
Send your stories to
[email protected].
Mande sus historias a
[email protected].
“I remember there were times when my family would go hungry for
days because we ran out of food and had to survive on water.”
— April Moo, City Heights resident
food for everyone. Even though
we got food from the United Nations, it was still not enough for
everyone. We received only rice,
yellow beans, oil, chilies, salt,
and fish paste. We couldn’t go
outside the camp to find food.
I remember there were times
when my family would go hungry for days because we ran out
of food and had to survive on
water. There was no running water in our homes as there is in the
United States. We fetched water
kilometers away from our home.
Sometimes the whole family went
so we could fetch enough water to
last us a long period of time.
My parents decided to come to
America so their children could
get a better education and a better life. I knew that I would have
more opportunities here, and I
saw a bright future I didn’t see
before. However, life in America
has not been as easy as I thought
it would be.
My family encountered challenges in many areas. We had to
learn a new language, the way
Americans dress, the food they
eat, and how they interact socially
and culturally. In Thailand, we
didn’t have a nice house like we
do in America. Our house in the
refugee camp was made of bamboo, leaves, and wood. We had
green forests all around us but no
big buildings or paved roads.
Upon arrival in San Diego, I
was put in 9th grade at Crawford
High School. It was very hard because I didn’t know any English
and had to make new friends.
Despite these obstacles, I remain determined to pursue my
dream of higher education.
I now have opportunities that
would not have been available to
me had I stayed in the camp. I
am so happy to have come to the
United States to better my life.
Here, I have been able to go to
school and get a good education.
Last week I graduated from high
school! Next fall, I will go to City
College. My goal is to become a
nurse.
In San Diego, I try to help my
people as much as I can by translating for those who don’t speak
English and driving those who
lack cars to welfare offices and to
buy food.
During the Karen New Year,
I organized a traditional fashion
show, in which I also participated.
Held on Jan. 14, the event was a
huge success with more than 800
people showing up. We celebrated
the beginning of the new year and
performed traditional dances during the celebration. Afterwards,
we all gathered to eat. Next to
getting an education, being a
youth leader in my community
is what I value the most. I want
to set an example for my fellow
Karen people.
— April Moo is from an ethnic
minority in Burma known as the
Karen. She was born and raised
in a refugee camp in Thailand.
Four years ago, her family immigrated to America and settled in
City Heights.
We want to hear from you!
Send your letters, ideas, comments and submissions to
[email protected].
Also, submit your photos taken in City Heights for
publication consideration.
Find what you need online
A searchable database
of City of San Diego
services, organized
alphabetically, is available at http://apps.
sandiego.gov/
citizenservices/
resource.
SERVICE DIRECTORY
Who to call to report a problem
• Abandoned vehicles
(858) 495-7856
• Crime Stoppers
(888) 580-8477
• Animal control
(619) 236-4250
• Dead animal
removal
(858) 694-7000
• Auto tow-away
request
(619) 531-2000
• Brush/weed
abatement
(619) 533-4444
• Gangs
(619) 531-2000
• Drug activity
(619) 531-2468
• Dumpster overflow
(858) 694-7000
• Graffiti
(619) 525-8522
• Gutter cleaning/
repair
(619) 527-3471
• Housing/building
code violations
(619) 236-5500
• Loitering/
prostitution
(619) 531-2000
• Rodent control
(858) 694-2888
• Sidewalk/street/
streetlight/traffic
signal repairs
(619) 527-7500
• Trash removal
(858) 492-5055
• Tree maintenance
(619) 527-7500
• Water/sewer
emergencies
(619) 515-3525
P5
HEALTH
TO YOUR HEALTH
Celebrate Valentine’s Day
by taking care of your heart
and your loved one’s
terol, diabetes, smoking, being overweight or obese, being physically inactive, age (55 or older for women),
and family history. Talk to your doctor.
Find out your risk and take action to
lower it.
Make an appointment to see your
doctor or visit your local clinic and
ask these questions:
1. What is my risk for heart disease?
2. What screening or diagnostic
tests for heart disease do I need?
By Susana Loro
City Heights Life Columnist
Love is in the air. Colorful flowers,
balloons, elegantly-decorated boxes of
chocolate, greeting cards with messages of love and fluffy stuffed animals
are just a few of the things that make
their way into local stores in February.
Giving your significant other a Valentine’s Day gift is a very sweet and romantic gesture but an even better gesture would be to sit down with your
loved one and discuss some of the
things you can do to take better care
of each other’s hearts. You do want to
grow old together, right? Taking care
of yourself and each other says, “I
want to be healthy and I want you to be
healthy too so that we can be around
for a long time and share our lives with
each other.” Now, that’s love!
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart
disease is the leading cause of death
in the United States. Although heart
disease is sometimes thought of as a
“man’s disease,” it is the leading cause
of death for both women and men in
the United States, and women account
for nearly 50% of heart disease deaths.
This disease is largely preventable,
but kills more women than all forms
of cancer combined. While heart disease risk begins to rise in middle age,
the disease develops over time and can
start at a young age, even in the teen
years. It’s never too early, or too late,
to take action to prevent and control
the risk factors.
What can you do for yourself and
your loved ones?
Know the risk factors for heart disease and tell others about them too:
high blood pressure, elevated choles-
Editor
Helen Gao
[email protected]
Art Director
Claire Harlin
3. What are my numbers and what
do they mean?
• Blood pressure
• Cholesterol – total cholesterol,
LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good)
cholesterol, and triglycerides
• Body mass index and waist circumference measurement
• Blood sugar level (an indicator
for diabetes)
4. What can you do to help me quit
smoking?
5. How much physical activity do I
need to help protect my heart?
6. What is a heart-healthy eating
plan for me?
Take your doctor’s advice. Exercise
regularly, eat healthier, stop smoking.
Choose a healthier lifestyle. You will
have more energy and be in a better
mood, and you could potentially add
years to your life so that you can spend
more time with the ones you love.
Make this year’s Valentine’s Day all
about the heart!
To find out more about women and
heart disease, visit hearttruth.gov or
call the NHLBI Health Information
Center at (301) 592-8573.
— Susana Loro is committed to
finding ways to live her happiest and
healthiest life every day and inspiring others to do the same. Susana has
worked for various local nonprofits
and government organizations. Currently, she is working part-time for a
binational recycling operations company while training to become a certified holistic health coach. She is active in the City Heights community as
a member of the Board of Management at the Copley Family YMCA.
Susana is also planning to begin her
graduate studies at San Diego State
University next fall.
Submissions
City Heights Life publishes
monthly. Please submit
letters, photos, events, articles
or story ideas to
[email protected].
PARA EL SALUD
Para celebrar el Día del
Amor: proteger el corazón
El amor está en el aire, flores, globos, cajas
elegantes de chocolates, tarjetas con mensajes
de amor y lindos animales de peluche son sólo
algunas de las cosas que están en los negocios
locales y supermercados durante el mes de febrero. Darle a su pareja un regalo de San Valentín o del Día del Amor y la Amistad es un
gesto muy dulce y romántico, pero un gesto aún
mejor sería sentarse con su pareja y discutir
algunas cosas que ustedes pueden hacer para
cuidar mejor de sus corazones. Quieren envejecer juntos, ¿verdad? Cuidar de sí mismo y los
demás dice: “Quiero estar saludable y quiero
que tu estés saludable también, de modo que
podremos estar aquí por mucho tiempo y compartir nuestras vidas”. ¡Eso es amor!
Según el Centro para el Control y Prevención de Enfermedades, la enfermedad cardíaca
es la principal causa de muerte en los Estados
Unidos. Aunque las enfermedades del corazón
son a veces consideradas como una “enfermedad del hombre”, estas son la principal causa
de muerte tanto para hombres y mujeres en los
Estados Unidos, y las mujeres representan cerca del 50% de las muertes por enfermedades
del corazón. Esta enfermedad se puede prevenir, pero mata a más mujeres que todas las
formas de cáncer combinadas. Mientras que
el riesgo de enfermedad cardiaca comienza a
aumentar en la edad media, las enfermedades
del corazón se desarrollan con el tiempo y pueden empezar a una edad temprana, incluso en
la adolescencia. Nunca es demasiado temprano
o demasiado tarde, para tomar medidas para
prevenir y controlar los factores de riesgo de
enfermedad cardíaca.
¿Qué puede hacer por usted y por sus seres
queridos?
Conozca los factores de riesgo de las enfermedades del corazón: presión sanguínea alta,
colesterol alto, diabetes, fumar, tener sobrepeso
u obesidad, inactividad física, edad (55 o más
para las mujeres) e historial familiar. Hable
con su médico. Conozca sus riesgos. Y tomé ac-
ción para reducirlos.
Haga una cita para ver a su médico o acuda a
su clínica local y haga las siguientes preguntas:
1. ¿Cuál es mi riesgo de enfermedades
del corazón?
2. ¿Qué pruebas de detección o diagnósticos de enfermedades del corazón necesito?
3. ¿Cuáles son mis números y qué significan?
• Presión sanguínea, colesterol — colesterol total, colesterol LDL (“malo”), colesterol HDL (“bueno”) y triglicéridos, índice
de masa corporal medidas de la circunferencia de la cintura, nivel de azúcar en la
sangre (podría indicar riesgo de diabetes)
4. ¿Qué puede hacer usted para
ayudarme a dejar de fumar?
5. ¿Cuánta actividad física necesito para
ayudar a proteger mi corazón?
6. ¿Qué plan de alimentación saludable
para el corazón es apropiado para mí?
Siga los consejos de su médico, haga ejercicio regularmente, coma más saludable, deje
de fumar. Elija un estilo de vida más saludable. Usted tendrá más energía, mejor estado
de animo y, posiblemente podrá añadir años a
su vida para que pueda pasar más tiempo con
sus seres queridos. ¡Haga que el enfoque de
San Valentín este año sea su corazón!
Participe en el Día Nacional de Vestir de
Rojo el dia Viernes 3 de febrero del 2012. Este
es un día en que la gente en todo el país se
vestirá de rojo para mostrar su apoyo a la
concientización sobre las enfermedades del
corazón en las mujeres. Únase al movimiento
de la conciencia nacional, e invite a su familia, amigos y compañeros de trabajo a hacer
lo mismo.
Para obtener más información
sobre las mujeres y la enfermedad cardiaca, visite las páginas
de The Heart Truth (La verdad
acerca del corazón) en www.
hearttruth.gov o llame al NHLBI
Centro de Información de Salud
al 301-592-8573.
P6
NEIGHBORHOODNEWS
Azalea Park effort
If you’d like an update on the Poplar Street project
or learn how you can improve your neighborhood
business corridor, contact Katt Eaton (pictured below) at
[email protected].
underway
to build
vibrant commercial corridor
By Katt Eaton
Urban Aggregate
In City Heights, the two main
commercial corridors are El Cajon Boulevard and University Avenue. However, it’s important to not
overlook the value of the smaller
neighborhood business corridors
throughout the 16 communities in
City Heights.
Neighborhood shops and corner
markets can be an asset to residents
by offering convenience, walkability, and a place to connect with
neighbors. They also can be a liability. In some instances, corner
markets rely heavily on cigarette
and liquor sales. According to Public Health Law & Policy, “corner
stores’ emphasis on alcohol and
tobacco often makes them magnets
for litter, loitering, drug dealing, and
prostitution. Improving the product
selection at corner stores is one way
to address a host of concerns facing
urban and rural communities.”
An effort is underway in Azalea
“When asked what they wanted to see more of,
respondents overwhelmingly said they wanted
neighborhood markets to stock more fresh produce and have a
deli, fruiteria and coffee shop.”
KATT EATON
Founder,Urban Aggregate
Park to do precisely that. What is
happening there is a prime example
of what residents can do to partner with local businesses to create
healthier options and create a more
vibrant commercial corridor. The
business corridor in Azalea Park is
predominantly located on Poplar
Street and serves as a place where
neighbors can shop, get a quick bite
to eat, and socialize with each other.
As founder of Urban Aggregate
(a local consulting company that
works to improve the health and
safety of communities by bridging
public health and business inter-
ests), I partnered with local organizations and agencies to survey
almost 300 Azalea Park residents
to identify concerns and learn what
products and services they want
most. Of those surveyed more than
half are current customers of neighborhood markets, almost half have
lived in Azalea Park for more than
six years, and half have children.
When asked what they wanted
to see more of, respondents overwhelmingly said they wanted neighborhood markets to stock more fresh
produce and have a deli, fruiteria,
and coffee shop.
Concerns ranged from expired
food products still on the shelves, the
safety of the area around the stores,
and the sale of alcohol to minors.
Urban Aggregate is in the process of sharing the survey results
with Poplar Street businesses, and
the early response has been favor-
able. The history of Urban Aggregate’s work suggests businesses that
partner with neighborhood associations on revitalization efforts can increase profitability while becoming
community assets.
— Katt Eaton is a resident of
Azalea Park and founder of Urban
Aggregate.
Momentum teams’ wins add up
to bigger impact in City Heights
By Adam Ward
Mid-City CAN
Over the past year, a host of grassroots campaigns were launched to
improve the lives of City Heights residents. Through collaborative working groups, known as Momentum
Teams, the Mid-City Community
Advocacy Network (Mid-City CAN)
brought together parents, youth, residents, schools, businesses, nonprofit
organizations, cultural groups, and
other institutions, to address community concerns. Here are some examples of what the teams have achieved
and will work on this year:
• The School Attendance Momentum Team led a fight to make
sure that all students at the Crawford
High Educational Complex complied
with the new “no shot, no school”
state law that requires the whooping cough booster vaccine. The team
educated parents and students about
the requirement and pressured the
county to move clinics with free vaccines closer to the school. As a result,
Crawford achieved 100 percent compliance with the new vaccination law.
Now the team is battling truancy and
other issues.
• The newly-formed Improving
Transportation in City Heights Momentum Team enlisted the help of
the San Diego Community College
District Board of Trustees to push the
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) to provide free
bus passes for students and young
people in City Heights. Residents
spoke at the trustees meeting on Nov.
11 about the struggle to pay for transportation and education costs. As a
result, the trustees wrote a letter of
support. Now the team is working to
pressure SANDAG directly.
• The Youth Council and its allies packed the November meeting
of the City Heights Recreation Council to give their input on the Central
Avenue Mini Park. They advocated
for a skatepark and more safe places
for recreation in City Heights. Due
to their suggestions, the park design
team revised the plan to include more
land for the skate area. The team is
now working to make sure that the
City Council continues to support the
skatepark.
• The Peace Promotion Momentum Team hosted a Mid-City Police
Appreciation Day event on Oct. 11,
serving food to officers and commu-
[MID-CITY CAN, P11]
The Teen Sexual Health Momentum Team is helping to improve understanding between
students and health professionals who work with youth . Photo courtesy of Adam Ward
P7
NEIGHBORHOODNEWS
A dream
in action
A
large contingent of City Heights students from the
Mid-City Campus of San Diego Continuing Education participated in the 32nd Annual Martin Luther King Day Parade held on Jan. 15 along Harbor Drive. They
marched alongside a float made from scratch by welding and
steel fabrication students who won the first-place sweepstakes
award. The float featured three scenes to support “The Dream in
Action” theme. The first scene was a reduced model replica of the
bus made famous by civil rights leader Rosa Parks. The second
scene highlighted a primtive classroom where black students sat
around a potbelly stove before the Brown v. Board of Education
ruling outlawed segregation in schools. The third scene consisted of a presidential podium with a student posing as President
Barack Obama.
UC Berkeley graduate comes full circle
to teach science in City Heights
M
By Johnny Sanvichith
Ocean Discovery Institute
y mom often told me stories of what
City Heights used to be like when I
was growing up. She talked about
the dangers that lurked when the sun
went down in what was then East San Diego. Although
I had lived in the community since I was 3-years-old, I
rarely stepped outside the perimeter of my apartment,
fearing my mother’s scolding. She sheltered me from
the disparity of the community so that I only saw the
good – the parents dedicated to education, the neighbors committed to improving their community, and
the students eager to learn.
I went on to graduate from Hoover High School
and attend UC Berkeley, where I got my degree in environmental science. After college, I was eager to return to City Heights to be a part of the positive movement that was happening in my community. So when I
saw the opportunity to apply for a fellowship with the
Ocean Discovery Institute, I didn’t hesitate. Now I am
[ODI, P11]
Johnny Sanvichith teaches young people about remotely-operated vehicles and engineering at the
City Heights Farmers’ Market. Photo courtesy of the Ocean Discovery Institute
P8
SCHOOLS
HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL
Hoover senior stands out
for community service
EDUCATION BRIEFS
Hoover students tour Qualcomm,
explore career paths
San Diego-based Fortune 500 company Qualcomm Inc. recently hosted a group of students
from the Hoover High School Academy of Information Technology, giving them the opportunity
to job shadow executives and tour the facilities.
Students visited Qualcomm’s data storage
room, IT Communication/Customer Service Center, and its new museum showcasing the company’s history of innovation. They also learned
about employees’ daily work and responsibilities.
During lunch, presenters discussed careers in
computer technology and shared their own career
path stories, in addition to offering students the
opportunity to network and talk with mentors in
small groups.
Truancy awareness campaign
launched countywide
By Brittany Black-Jones
Hoover High School
In between school work and being on the swim and tennis teams,
Hoover High School Senior Suong
Ho has dedicated herself to a variety
of projects to improve her community and the environment.
As president of the Octagon Club,
she organizes fellow students to volunteer at local events, such as cleaning and restoring canyons, reading to
preschoolers at the Euclid Child Development Center, and gift wrapping
at the YMCA. Other service projects she’s been involved in include
helping to make meals for hospital
patients and cheering for runners at
charity events.
Suong’s community service extends beyond San Diego. Through
the Ocean Discovery Institute in City
Heights, she spent five weeks last
summer in Bajia de Los Angeles in
Mexico working on potential solutions to reduce the number of sea turtles caught in fisheries. During her
time there, she taught children in the
community about marine life found
in the ocean.
It was a life-changing experience
for her. “I was able to live in a community in Mexico where resources
were so limited, yet the pristine nature was breathtaking – dolphins and
sea lions playfully jumping beside
our boats, majestic boulders and
sheer cliffs on the islands. It’s the
untouched nature people should see
with their eyes to realize how beautiful nature can be.”
Suong believes that everyone has
the responsibility to help save the environment and make the world a bet-
“I know my actions are meager
compared to some others, but I know
that I am doing something while
some are criticizing or talking
more than they do.”
— Suong Ho, Hoover High senior (pictured above)
ter place to live. “Most of us are experiencing similar problems, yet we
tend to disconnect from each other
and feel defeated,” she said. “I know
my actions are meager compared to
some others, but I know that I am doing something while some are criticizing or talking more than they do.”
A nature lover, she speaks eloquently about the need to preserve
the canyons in City Heights and the
beauty of Mexico’s landscape. “Many
of us don’t know, but there are seven canyons in City Heights that all
contribute to the watershed, a system
of how water travels and is filtered
through canyons, which is one reason
to take care of them,” she said.
The experiences Suong’s had
throughout her high school career
have influenced her choices of potential majors in college. She’s considering international studies, peace
and conflict studies, sociology, and
anthropology. What inspired her, she
said, are programs that help young
people see the potential in themselves even when they may not see it
or feel like giving up.
Suong, who has played tennis all
four years of high school and was
part of the swim team in her junior
year, credits Hoover, the Ocean Discovery Institute, and her parents for
teaching her perseverance. Her parents are immigrants who came to
America speaking no English.
“Basically all the programs here
at Hoover that have been growing,
created, or brought back have made
Hoover students more involved, prepared, and feel at ease. I also believe
that teachers, coaches, counselors,
librarians,
health
professionals,
speech therapists, staff – everyone
– has had an impact in my and other
students’ lives as well,” Suong said.
“They are the faces we see everyday,
and they are the ones who see hope
in us and develop all these programs
to help us, despite their busy, crazy
lives.”
— Brittany Black-Jones is a
journalism student and member of
the class of 2012 at Hoover High
School.
In conjunction with judicial and law enforcement officials, the San Diego County Office
of Education has launched a campaign to raise
awareness of the chronic problem of truancy and
seek the public’s help in reporting truant children
to the authorities.
According to County Superintendent of
Schools Randy Ward, truancy is widespread in
the region: one in 10 local students misses at least
10 percent of the school year due to unexcused
absences. Educators say truancy can eventually
lead to dropping out, criminal behavior, and other
problems.
As part of the anti-truancy campaign, fliers
will be distributed to urge residents and merchants to notify their local school districts or
the police when they see children hanging out in
public places during school hours.
More locally-grown produce
served in school cafeterias
Under the San Diego Unified School District’s
Farm to School Program, tons of certified locally-grown fruits and vegetables are being served
in school cafeterias, and the items, often organic,
have proven to be popular with students.
The Farm to School Program partners with
growers who are located within 25- to 250-mile
radius of the district’s food services distribution
center and farms that are no larger than 1,000
acres. Currently, the district is working with
more than 10 family farms and serves at least one
local food item sourced from these farms each
month. The featured item for January was Kabocha squash from Suzie’s Farm in the South Bay,
appearing each Thursday in school salad bars.
School choice applications
due on Feb. 15
Feb. 15 is the deadline for parents to submit
an application for their children to attend magnet, charter or other school choice programs in
the San Diego Unified School District.
The district offers a wide range of specialized
academic programs, such as International Baccalaureate Studies and dual-language immersion,
and parents have the option of sending their children to programs of their choice based on space
availability and other factors.
School choice applications must be submitted online. Paper or faxed applications will not
be accepted. To review the district’s Enrollment
Options Catalog and fill out an application, visit
sandi.net.
P9
BUSINESS
NONPROFIT SPOTLIGHT
Volunteers sort book donations.
Photo/City Heights Life
Voluntarios clasifican las donaciones de libros.
Foto/City Heights Life
Uno de las frases favoritas de Irwin “The Bookman”
Herman es: “Nunca niegues tu capacidad de marcar la diferencia”. Foto/City Heights Life
One of Irwin “The Bookman” Herman’s favorite
sayings is “Never deny your ability to make a difference.” Photo/City Heights Life
“The Bookman” ha recibido donaciones de libros de todas partes del mundo, tal como
demuestra el mapa. Foto/City Heights Life The Bookman has received book donations from all over the world, as shown in this map. Photo/City Heights Life
The Bookman spreads half a million books a
year from his City Heights warehouse
Tucked away in a nondescript warehouse in the
Corridor neighborhood of City Heights, Irwin “The
Bookman” Herman is hard at work devising new ways
to “help others reach their potential.” It’s evident from
the first moment you meet Irwin that he is passionate
about life. He enthusiastically reminisces about his 80
years of life and how a retired appliance repairman
from Chicago is now spreading half a million books a
year across the world.
“If I get one book in the hands of a needy kid, it
makes it all worth it,” he says.
A hard worker by nature, he recalls selling newspapers from the time he was 8 years old. He dropped
out of school at the age of 15 to take over the family’s
appliance repair business “Herman’s Electric” after the
death of his father. Even though he wanted to become a
lawyer, he felt the obligation to take care of his mother,
which he did, until her death. He told his future wife,
Shirley, “If you marry me, you marry my mother.”
In 1988 Herman turned the business over to his son
and moved to San Carlos, a San Diego neighborhood
near Cowles Mountain, at his wife’s insistence. Soon
thereafter he accompanied a friend doing outreach at
the Descanso jail and discovered the inmates didn’t
have any books. Despite being a high school dropout, Herman was an avid reader and had a significant
book collection at home. He returned to the jail bringing with him a shelf full of soft cover books. When he
later attended a high school graduation ceremony, the
inmates took to calling him “The Bookman,” and the
nickname stuck.
The inmates’ gratitude inspired Herman to expand
his donations. He began buying books at yard sales and
taking donations from friends. When his garage became full of books he began using neighbors’ garages
and donating to schools and homeless shelters. In 1998
the Bookman moved into the current 5,000-square foot
warehouse in Corridor, thanks to a donation from Jack
Grace, who continues to pay the utility bills.
Today The Bookman redistributes more than half
a million books each year, turning over 2,000 to 3,000
books per day, across San Diego
and the world. The entire operation is run primarily by
four volunteers (Herman
declares, “My staff was
sent by God”). Leonard Pearlman is known
as Lenny the Elf, Don
Schulz is a retired
bookstore owner, and
Tony Ross is a retired
publishing executive. Together with Herman, they
sort, categorize, and shelve
hundreds of thousands of books
a year.
The Bookman made its first foreign
country donation to Turkey 15 to 16 years
ago and has since expanded to more than 120 countries. People learn about The Bookman by word of
mouth, primarily through San Diego residents. Outside of San Diego, the largest benefactor of books is
the Philippines.
Herman vows to keep up his work until as he says
he “croaks.” The warehouse walls are covered with
outpourings from grateful recipients. “I save every
note, every letter, every picture,” says Herman. These
days his 21 years of service has taken on a higher
meaning. His beloved wife of more than 60 years has
dementia and is unable to care for herself. “This is my
savior right here, interfacing with people every day.”
The Bookman uses cash donations to purchase
new books from publishers to supplement the donated
books. The warehouse is open free of charge to teachers and organizations working with needy readers.
Herman says he would love for every teacher in City
Heights to visit the warehouse and fill their classroom
with books. “You come to me and get any book you
need.” He even guarantees you won’t have to fill out
a form.
— Staff report
‘The Bookman’ reparte medio millón de libros
al año desde su depósito en City Heights
Es-
For more information about how you can get
books or donate books, visit
thebookman.org.
Para más información acerca de cómo
obtener o donar libros, visite
thebookman.org.
condido en un
depósito ubicado en
el vecindario Corridor de City Heights,
Irwin “The Bookman” Herman trabaja
afanosamente tratando de crear nuevas
formas de “ayudar a
los demás a alcanzar
todo su potencial”.
Desde el primer momento que alguien
conoce a Herman, su
pasión por la vida se
hace evidente. Tiene
muchos recuerdos de
sus 80 años de vida
y de cómo un técnico
de electrodomésticos
jubilado de Chicago,
reparte en la actuali-
dad medio millón de
libros anualmente en
todo el mundo.
“Si puedo hacer
que un niño necesitado reciba un libro,
todo ha valido la
pena”, dice.
Trabajador por
naturaleza, recuerda que vendía
periódicos desde los
8 años de edad. Dejó
los estudios a la edad
de 15 años para encargarse del negocio
familiar de reparación
de electrodomésticos,
“Herman’s Electric”,
después de la muerte
de su padre. Aunque
quería ser abogado, se
sintió obligado a cuidar de su madre, y lo
hizo, hasta el día que
ella murió. Le dijo a
su futura esposa, Shirley, “Si te casas conmigo, te casas con mi
madre”.
En 1988, por insistencia de su esposa,
Herman dejó el negocio en manos de su
hijo y se mudó a San
Carlos, un vecindario
de San Diego ubicado cerca de Cowles
Mountain.
Poco
después, visitó con
un amigo la cárcel de
Descanso y descubrió
que sus ocupantes no
tenían libros. A pesar
de haber abandonado
los estudios, Herman
era un ávido lector
y tenía una colección significativa en
su casa. Regresó a la
cárcel con un estante
lleno de libros de tapa
blanda. Cuando asistió a una ceremonia de
graduación de preparatoria en la prisión,
los presos le pusieron
el apodo que aún lo
identifica, “The Bookman”.
La gratitud de los
presos inspiró a Herman a expandir sus
donaciones. Comenzó
a comprar libros en
ventas de patio y a
aceptar donaciones de
sus amigos. Cuando
su garaje se llenó de
libros, comenzó a usar
el garaje de sus vecinos
desde donde donaba
libros a escuelas y
albergues para desamparados. En 1998,
“The Bookman” se
mudó al depósito de
5,000 pies cuadrados
en Corridor, gracias a
las donaciones de Jack
[LIBROS, PX]
P10
SAFETY
Potholes? Graffiti? Broken Street Light?
... there’s an app for that
By Kurt Smith
Price Charities
One way for City Heights
residents to create safer places
to live, learn, and grow is to report city maintenance problems,
such as potholes, broken sidewalks, and graffiti, in a timely
and accurate manner. The City
of San Diego Streets Division
now has a free smartphone application called San Diego 311
through CitySourced.com to facilitate the reporting process.
With versions for iPhone,
Droid, Windows Mobile and
Blackberry, the app is available for download at www.citysourced.com/san-diego.
The San Diego Streets Division has offered online service
requests for years, and it has
been a good way for community
members to report maintenance
problems. San Diego 311 takes
this tradition of online service to
the next level by enabling people with smartphones to make
reports when and where they
see problems and to include a
picture so the specific problem
is clearly communicated.
Another new capability allows all issues reported through
CitySourced to be viewed
through an online map at www.
citysourced.com/san-diego.
This website allows users to
see what’s been reported in
City Heights, sign up for e-mail
alerts for their areas of interest,
and download data for further
consideration.
What started as a better way
for individuals to report specific
problems to the city may become a resource to neighbors
and organizations who use this
information to share priorities
and participate in long-lasting
solutions.
If you have questions about
San Diego 311, contact John Ly
at [email protected].
— Kurt Smith is the safety
director for Price Charities and
a long-time law enforcement
officer and crime analyst.
San Diego 311, a free smartphone application available via CitySourced.com, allows residents to conveniently report city maintenance problems. Courtesy photo
LIBROS, from P7
A mural adorns the exterior of The Bookman’s warehouse in City Heights.
Photo/City Heights Life
Un mural adorna el exterior del depósito de “The Bookman” en City Heights.
Foto/City Heights Life
Grace, quien sigue pagando las facturas mensuales.
En la actualidad, “The Bookman” distribuye más de medio millón de libros anualmente, es decir,
de 2,000 a 3,000 libros diarios a
lo largo de San Diego y el mundo
entero. La operación está a cargo
principalmente de cuatro voluntarios (Herman dice que “mi personal
fue enviado por Dios”), Leonard
Pearlman, conocido como “Lenny
the Elf”, Don Schulz, jubilado que
solía ser dueño de una librería y
Tony Ross, editor jubilado. Junto
con Herman, clasifican, categorizan
y organizan cientos de miles de libros al año.
“The Bookman” hizo su primera
donación en el extranjero hace 15 o
16 años, enviando libros a Turquía.
Desde entonces, se ha ido expandiendo hasta alcanzar más de 120
países. La labor de “The Bookman”
se divulga de boca en boca, especialmente a través de los residentes
de San Diego. Después de San Diego, el mayor benefactor de libros
es las Filipinas.
Herman dice que seguirá haciendo lo que hace hasta el día que
se muera. Las paredes del depósito
están cubiertas de demostraciones
de agradecimiento. “Guardo cada
“Si puedo
hacer que un niño
necesitado reciba un
libro, todo ha valido
la pena.”
— Irwin “The Bookman” Herman
nota, cada carta, cada foto”, dice
Herman. En la actualidad, sus 21
años de servicio han cobrado un
nuevo significado. Su amada esposa
de más de 60 años, tiene demencia y
no puede cuidar de sí misma. “Esta
es mi salvación, poder interactuar
con la gente todos los días”.
“The Bookman” usa las donaciones en efectivo para comprar
libros nuevos y suplementar las
donaciones. El depósito está abier-
to, gratuitamente, para los maestros
y organizaciones que trabajen con
lectores necesitados. Herman dice
que le encantaría que cada maestro
de City Heights visitara el depósito
y llenara su salón de clases de libros. “Vengan y llévense cualquier
libro que necesiten”. Incluso garantiza que no tiene que llenar un
formulario.
— Staff report
P11
SERVICES
AT YOUR SERVICE
Project COMPASS helps men become better fathers and husbands
By Helen Gao
City Heights Life
Being a good father, husband,
and provider is not easy. For lowincome men who need support to
sustain a healthy marriage, learn
responsible parenting, and build
economic stability, there is a free
program in City Heights that they
can turn to for help.
SAY San Diego recently started
Project COMPASS – Creating
Options for Men to Participate
Actively, Safety, and Supportively. The program is geared toward
both civilian and military dads
who want to be engaged in their
children’s lives and strengthen
their families.
Participants in Project COMPASS receive individualized support and case management. They
attend workshops with peer-to-
Participants in Project COMPASS receive individualized support and case management. They
attend workshops with peer-to-peer discussions
on the importance of fatherhood and raising
healthy children, as well as marriage classes.
peer discussions on the importance
of fatherhood and raising healthy
children, as well as marriage classes on building family relationships
through positive communication.
Employment services are also offered, including job readiness,
placement, retention, and financial
management classes.
Project COMPASS offers services in multiple locations in San
Diego, including City Heights.
Childcare is available at select locations. For more information, call
(619) 283-9634 ext. 260. The SAY
San Diego office in City Heights
is located at 4275 El Cajon Blvd.,
Suite 101 (in the same building
as the Mid-City Family Resource
Center).
The program is funded by a
$790,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. According to Congresswoman Susan Davis, who helped SAY
San Diego secure the grant, the program will involve fathers in a bestpractice model curricula, including
“24/7 Dad,” “Systematic Training
for Effective Parenting (STEP),”
and “Parents as Teachers.”
SAY San Diego, which stands
for Social Advocates for Youth,
is a San Diego-based nonprofit
agency that specializes in providing services for children and
families with a special focus on
at-risk populations. Founded in
1971, SAY started as a program
to help youth navigate the juvenile justice system. Today, its
programs range from child abuse
prevention to financial literacy
education to tax preparation for
low-income families.
Project Compass helps low-income and military dads learn how to become better parents,
spouses, and providers. To sign up for the free program, call (619) 283-9634 ext. 260.
ODI, from P7
MID-CITY CAN, from P6
nity members throughout the day.
Children from Cherokee Point Elementary and other schools wrote
letters thanking the officers. “We
really had a great opportunity to
say ‘Hello’ and ‘Thank you’ to the
officers of the Mid-City Division
who put their lives on the line for
us,” event leader Bridget Lambert
said. “We are hoping this is the
beginning of a close collaborative
relationship to bring peace to City
Heights.” Now, the team is working
to ensure that the Mid-City station
stays open and accessible to com-
munity members, and isn’t a victim
of budget cuts.
• In May, the Teen Sexual Health
Momentum Team brought together
nearly 500 people at the Crawford
High Educational Complex for an
event to educate students, as well
as health professionals who work
with youth. The event fostered a
dialogue between youth and health
professionals using arts and culture
to ask the question: “What is the
core of teen sexual health?” The
team recently added a second event,
scheduled for 1:30 p.m.-4 p.m., Feb.
8, at Hoover High School. “We’re
changing the way students and
youth think about sexual health,”
Teen Sexual Health Co-Chair Carolyn Pinces said. Pinces joined the
Mid-City CAN Coordinating Council in December.
— Adam Ward is the Mid-City
CAN staff writer and a former
San Diego Union-Tribune editor.
Adam has lived in San Diego for
nearly a decade and is the father
of a young son. Contact him at
[email protected] or (619)
283-9624 ext. 210.
Mid-City CAN will hold a Community Conversation
on Feb. 14 to give City Heights residents the opportunity to learn about the organization’s work
and talk about the problems they see facing their
community. For details, visit http://midcitycan.org
to sign up for the email list. Information about the
Momentum Teams is also available via the Web site.
proud to be a Discovery Fellow at the institute teaching in
the classroom and leading the Science Adventurers internship
program.
Through the internship program, ten students from Hoover
High engage the community in science and conservation
through a series of hands-on activities that are relevant to
their daily lives. This year, the interns are teaching their fellow community members about remotely-operated vehicles
(ROVs). Participants have the opportunity to pilot ROVs and
learn how these machines are used to access places humans
can’t, conducting important activities such as repairing oil
leaks and exploring new frontiers. The interns meet weekly
to develop teaching techniques and build their engineering
knowledge through articles, workshops, and presentations.
Interns also learn about engineering opportunities right here
in San Diego through partnerships with local companies and
professionals. The partnerships expose interns to the dayto-day responsibilities of an engineer, as well as give them
the opportunity to ask questions about career paths, both of
which are valuable as interns move on to college and careers.
The benefits of the program are already apparent for both the
interns and the community. I am so proud to be a part of it.
As a fellow at the Ocean Discovery Institute, I get to be
one of the many people working to improve our community.
All our efforts must be paying off, because even my mom has
changed her view of City Heights. She has become more connected to the community, asking me to walk her to the farmers’ market on Saturday mornings. I have been amazed to see
City Heights improve as I’ve grown up here, and see that it is
continuing to improve every day, thanks to the dedication and
determination of the community. The next time you’re strolling through the City Heights
Farmers’ Market, I hope you will stop by the Science Adventurers’ booth and see for yourself some of the great things
happening in the community. We will even let you drive an
ROV! Science Adventurers hosts a booth the third Saturday
of every month.
— Johnny Sanvichith is a City Heights resident, recent
graduate of UC Berkeley, and currently the School Programs Discovery Fellow at the Ocean Discovery Institute.
He can be reached at [email protected].
¿ Qué está pasando?
What’s
going on?
February
8
9
noon to 2 p.m.
City Heights Wellness Center
4440 Wightman St.
Food Justice Momentum Team
Contact: (619) 283-9624
9 to 10:30 a.m.
4305 University Ave.
Suite 540
Collaboration to Keep
City Heights Youth Safe
Meeting
Contact: (619) 906-4443
4 to 6 p.m.
City Heights/Weingart Library
3795 Fairmount Ave.
Homework Help
Contact: (619) 641-6100
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Metro Center
3910 University Ave.
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Redevelopment Project Area
Azalea Recreation Center Committee
2596 Violet St.
Translations can be
Athletics Fitness Class requested for free.
Ages 13-17
Contact: (619) 236-6700
Fee: $5
Contact: (619) 235-1162
13
17
3 to 5 p.m.
Azalea Recreation Center
2596 Violet St.
Tutoring/Homework
Center
Contact: (619) 235-1162
5 to 7 p.m.
Azalea Recreation Center
2596 Violet St.
Arts & Creativity Class
Ages 5-12
Contact: (619) 235-1162
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Monroe Clark Middle School
4388 Thorn St.
Dad’s Club
Contact: Kenneth Woods
(619) 795-2036
23
27
3 to 5 p.m.
Azalea Recreation Center
2596 Violet St.
Tutoring/Homework Center
Contact: (619) 235-1162
4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Azalea Recreation Center
2596 Violet St.
Athletics Fitness Class
Ages 13-17
Fee: $5
Contact: (619) 235-1162
10
14
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Monroe Clark Middle
School
4388 Thorn St.
Dad’s Club
Contact: Kenneth Woods
(619) 795-2036
18
9:15 to 9:45 a.m.
City Heights Recreation
Center
4380 Landis St.
Intro to Violin Class
$25 for 10 week session
Contact: Victoria Eicher at
(858) 442-0237
24
3 to 5 p.m.
Azalea Recreation
Center
2596 Violet St.
Tutoring/Homework Center
Contact: (619)
235-1162
6 to 7:30 p.m.
UPAC Program Office
5348 University Ave.,
Suite 202
Love and Life Group
Young Ladies Ages
13-18
Contact: Cherise Young
[email protected]
or (619) 265-2777
1 to 4 p.m.
Myrtle Avenue and 46th Street
47th Street Canyon Cleanup
Habitat restoration, maintenance, and clean-up. Please
bring water, sun protection and
wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes.
Contact: Brent Carter at brent@
sdcanyonlands.org or (619)
261-2385
25
15
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Mid-City Police Division
4310 Landis St.
Youth Voice
Leadership opportunities for
youth ages 12-24
6 to 7:30 p.m.
UPAC Program Office
5348 University Ave., Suite 202
Love and Life Group
Young Ladies Ages 13-18
Contact: Cherise Young at cyoung@
upacsd.com or (619) 265-2777
6 to 7 p.m.
Colina del Sol Park Recreation
Center
5319 Orange Ave.
Colina Park Recreation Council
Contact: (619) 235-1145
20
6 to 7:30 p.m.
UPAC Program Office
5348 University Ave., Suite 202
Expect Respect Group
Young women ages 18-24
Contact: Cherise Young cyoung@
upacsd.com or (619) 265-2777
4 to 6 p.m.
City Heights/Weingart Library
3795 Fairmount Ave.
Homework Help
Contact: (619) 641-6100
16
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fairmount Avenue and Wightman Street
City Heights Farmers’ Market
Contact: Lorrie Scott (760) 751-4193
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Mid-City Police Division
4310 Landis St.
Youth Voice
Leadership opportunities for youth ages 12-24
6 to 7:30 :30 p.m.
Central Elementary School
4036 Polk Ave.
Dad’s Club
Contact: Kenneth Woods (619) 795-2036
21
PRESIDENTS DAY
9:30 to 10 a.m.
City Heights Recreation Center
4380 Landis St.
Introduction to Guitar Class
Registration fee: $25 per session (10 weeks)
Ages 5-10, Contact: Chan Jennine at (760) 533-8245
29
noon to 12:45 p.m.
City Heights Recreation Center
4380 Landis St.
Singing and Movement Class
Registration fee: $25 per session
(10 weeks)
Ages 5-10
Contact: Renee Calvo (619) 204-9306
6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Mid-City Police Station
4310 Landis St., 2nd Floor
City Heights on Patrol
1 to 1:45 p.m.
City Heights Recreation Center
4380 Landis St.
Intermediate Voice Class, Registration fee: $25 per session (10
weeks), Ages 5-10, Contact: Renee Calvo at (619) 204-9306
28
11
3 to 5 p.m.
Azalea Recreation Center
2596 Violet St.
Tutoring/Homework Center
Contact: (619) 235-1162
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Florence Joyner Elementary
School
4271 Myrtle Ave.
Dad’s Club
Contact: Kenneth Woods
(619) 795-2036
22
2 to 3 p.m.
City Heights/Weingart Library
3795 Fairmount Ave.
Crafts for Kids
Contact: (619) 641-6100
4 to 6 p.m.
City Heights/Weingart
Library
3795 Fairmount Ave.
Homework Help
Contact: (619) 641-6100
CALENDAR EDITOR: JULIE LE
— Julie Le was born and raised in San Diego. She graduated at the top of her class from
Hoover High School. Julie is attending the University of California, San Diego, majoring in
urban studies and planning while working at Price Charities.
We want to hear from you!
Please submit photos taken in City Heights to
[email protected] to be included in
our Community Photo Showcase!
Story ideas, articles, letters to the editor and
comments are also welcome.
3 to 5 p.m.
Azalea Recreation Center
2596 Violet St.
Tutoring/Homework Center
Contact: (619) 235-1162
Submit events to [email protected].
For a more complete list of events, visit www.cityheightslife.com.